The Royal Shakespeare Company’s new stage production, Game of Thrones: The Mad King, will transfer to London in 2027 after a completely sold‑out world premiere season in Stratford‑upon‑Avon.
From Stratford to the capital
The RSC announced the move as the production played its final Stratford performance on Saturday, 5 September, following a run that opened on 8 August. Organisers say exact London dates and a venue will be confirmed in due course, with ticketing information to follow via booking alerts.
The transfer represents the company’s largest new commercial venture this year and will bring a high‑profile piece of franchise theatre to London audiences. The production adapts material from George R.R. Martin’s novels and is billed as exploring the final years before the events portrayed in the bestselling series.
Creative team and production details
The production is adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke. The creative team includes puppetry and movement direction by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell of Lume, set design by Chloe Lamford, costume design by Georgia McGuinness, lighting by Jon Clark and composition by Will Stuart.
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Adaptor | Duncan Macmillan |
| Director | Dominic Cooke |
| Puppetry & Movement | Nick Barnes & Finn Caldwell (Lume) |
| Set | Chloe Lamford |
| Costume | Georgia McGuinness |
| Lighting | Jon Clark |
| Composer | Will Stuart |
The show is produced by Simon Painter, Tim Lawson, Mark Manuel, Sir Leonard Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures on behalf of HBO.
Creator reaction and public appetite
"I had an absolutely splendid time... thrilled the production will be moving to London to share the experience with a wider audience,"
George R.R. Martin, credited as creator and executive producer on the stage show, said he was enthusiastic about the move to London and promised "an exhilarating journey" ahead. The Stratford run’s sell‑out status underlines strong public appetite for theatrical reinterpretations of widely known screen and book franchises.
Local theatre professionals and West End managers will be watching closely. Securing a suitably large West End auditorium will be crucial to accommodate the show's scale and technical demands; RSC producers have so far declined to confirm a venue.
What we know — and what we don’t
Certain facts are confirmed:
- The world premiere season opened on 8 August and sold out in Stratford‑upon‑Avon.
- The final Stratford performance was on 5 September.
- The production will transfer to London in 2027.
- Casting and London performance dates and venue are not yet announced.
Producers have invited theatregoers to sign up for booking alerts and news updates. Until the RSC makes further announcements, prospective audience members should avoid unofficial resale platforms and wait for direct sale channels to be opened.
Local impact and practicalities
A West End transfer of this scale usually brings increased tourism and ancillary spending to the area — restaurants, hotels and transport operators in central London stand to benefit if the run is extended. Equally, competition for large performance spaces in 2027 may be tight; producers and theatre owners will need to agree commercial terms and technical fit‑outs, which can be time‑consuming.
For London audiences keen to see the production: register for official booking alerts through the RSC and associated theatre outlets. Casting announcements are likely closer to the on‑sale date; at the time of writing the company has not released casting details for the London production.
From Stratford’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre this week, audience members and staff I spoke with were effusive about the scale of the staging and attentive technical work behind it. One patron described the experience as "huge and cinematic on stage", capturing why the production has drawn such attention and why London producers have moved quickly to secure a transfer.
The RSC’s decision to bring this production to London cements its intention to balance classical repertoire with commercially ambitious new work that can reach wider audiences. Further details are expected from the company in the months ahead.
